Steam-generator.



No. 782,943. PATENTED FEB. 21, 1905. G. P. ALTMANN.

STEAM GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1903.

' 2 sums-sum: 1.

If a i PATENTED FEB. 21,1905.

0. P. ALTMANN. STEAM GENERATOR. I APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES PHILIPPE ALTMANN, OF LYONS, FRANCE.

STEAM-GENERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 782,943, dated February 21, 1905.

Application filed April 20,1903. Serial No. 153,501.

To all whom, it may cmwcrn:

Be it known that I, CHARLES PHILIPPE ALT- MANN, engineer, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Lyons, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Steam-G enerators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a steam-generator by means of which it is possible to quickly generate dry steam. Its distinguishing features are its tubes, which are always full of water and easy to clean; its superheater, in

which the fluid is forced to follow a long path; its return flame-tubes inside the water and steam chamber, and, finally, the practical method of connecting the various elements in such manner that the joints are not exposed to pressure from the inside and the apparatus can be quickly erected or taken to pieces.

In the accompanying drawings a steam-generator according to this invention is illustrated by way of example.

Figure 1 is a view half in elevation and half in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a modified and simplified construction more particularly adapted to small generators. Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing an arrangement by which the lower joint can be made outside the ash-pit. Fig. 4 shows the same arrangement in plan.

The whole generator shown in Fig. l rests on a base 55, forming an ash-pit and provided with adoor 6. On this base is mounted a cylindrical casing 7, made in two superposed parts, and concentrically within the said cylindrical casing is a furnace-chamber with internal ribs on its walls 8 in order to increase the heatingsurface. The wall of the furnace is turned outward at the bottom 9 and bolted, by means of its flange, to the inner wall of the casing 7, some suitable substance (6 being interposed between the two, so as to insure a tight joint.

Beneath the bottom plate 9 is arranged a fuel-feed tube or plate 10, protecting it from the flames and closed by a fire-door 11, which can be opened to throw in fuel onto the fire 12, arranged at the bottom of the furnace.

The furnace rests, by means of a projection or flange, the under surface of which is machined, on a circular angle-iron 13, which is also machined, arranged at the bottom of the casing 7. A small space is provided between the portion of the furnace-frame situated under its machined flange and the angle-iron, so that the furnace can be moved to a sufficient extent for the purpose of making a joint with the bottom plate 9. The two lower faces of the furnace-frame and of the angle-iron 13 are in the same horizontal plane, so that in order to make a tight joint it is sufiicient to apply a ring 14 under both these faces, which is screwed tight by means of bolts.

To the upper part of the furnace is secured an inner casing made in one or several circular sections 15 16 17, which are riveted together. 15 and 17 are provided with conical portions being inwardly inclined in opposite directions, as shown in Fig. 1, and serve to receive normally the extremities of vaporizing-tubes 18, merging at both ends into the water-space of the generator. These tubes 18 are bent in a chord of a circle, in the continuation of which are arranged hermeticallyclosing openings arranged at distances apart in the outer casing 7. Owing to this arrangement, the inside of the tubes 18 can be easily cleaned byopening the closing-plates 19, while the uniform curvature of these tubes greatly facilitates the operation, as well as the replacement, of any tubes which may become dainaged.

The upper plate or section 17 is enlarged at the top and connected to a cylindrical plate 20, which in its turn is connected to an upper circular plate 21, the diameter of which is reduced at the top, so that these plates 17 and 20 present two parallel horizontal faces between which are arranged concentric series of tubes 22, exposed to the action of the hot combustion-gases. A partition 23 surrounds the plate 20 and the upper horizontal portion of the plate 17 and rises to the top of the steam-chamber, leaving sufficient room for the passage of steam between it and the inner casing, while another partition, 24, arranged concentrically within the preceding one, divides the steam-chamber into two concentric parts. The inner part of this chamber communicates, by means of radial tubes 25, with a top central chamber 26,d1v1ded into two su:

perposed compartments by a horizontal partition 27, the lower compartment of which communicates with depending tubes 28, closed at the bottom, in which are inserted tubes depending from the partitions 27 and communicating with the upper compartment of the tubes 28. The chamber 26, which is used as a steam-dome, is provided at the top with a steam-outlet 30.

Between the plate 21 and the chamber 26 is an annular space affording passage for the hot gases which enter a smoke-box 31. communicating with a circular flue 32, leadingto the chimney, by means of ribbed tubes 33, arranged in a circle between the outer and inner casings of the generator. The smoke-box 31 communicates with the ribbed tubes 33 by means of a series of cast-iron tubes 34, round which air can freely circulate.

The outer casing is surrounded by a thin jacket 35, arranged at a small distance from it, so as to leave an air-space to prevent loss of heat by radiation. This space may be filled for the same purpose with some material which is a bad conductor of heatsuch, for instance, as slag-wool.

In the center of the series of tubes 18 is arranged a plug 36 to prevent the passage of flame and gases directly upward and to deflect them outward.

The rings forming the outer casing are connected together by a joint 37, as in a stuflingbox. The outer casing is also connected to the top of the generator by a similar joint 38. The three circular joints (0, 37, and 38 have very slightly differing diameters-in fact, just enough to enable the various circular plates to pass round the inner ring. Consequently the force tending to separate the two parts is simply due to the pressure acting on a ring of a very small cross-sectional area, and the outer ring therefore acts, so to say, as a balanced valve with double seating. Therefore only a small number of bolts are needed to counteract the pressure exerted by the steam, which is balanced to a large extent by the weight of the parts that it tends to separate. Owing to these joints, the two parts of the casing can be quickly erected 01' taken to pieces.

The generator is provided with all ordinary fittings such as are used on ordinary steamgenerators.

WVater is introduced between the inner and the outer casings, and its level is normally above the top of the tubes 18, which should be always under water, so as to prevent liability of being burned. The burning fuel on the grate 12 heats by radiation the inner wall 8 of the furnace, the surface of which is increased by the ribs. Then the free gases heat the tubes 18, being obliged to pass round them on account of the plug 36, which forces them to come into contact with the plates 15 16 17.

.In rising they heat the tubes 28, tubes 22, and

plates 20 and 21 and the outer wall of the central chamber 26 and enter the smoke-box 31, whence they pass through the ribbed tubes 33 into the flue 32 and thence into the chimney after they have effected a long useful passage through the apparatus.

The water is heated at-the points of contact with the furnace 8, plates 15, 16, and 17 in the tubes 18,and by the tubes 33, and an active circulation is established through said tubes 18. The freed steam rises and is further heated on coming into contact with the return flame-tubes 33, after which it passes inside the partition 23, is further heated by contact with the plate 20, and owing to the narrowness of the passage at that point all particles of water that it may have carried with it are deposited and in their turn evaporated. The steam is thus dried and in passing through the tubes 22 becomes superheated and enters through the tubes 25 the lower compartment of the dome 26. From there it descends into the tubes 28, where its superheating is completed, and rises through the inside tubes 29 into the top compartment of the dome 26, from whence it passes through the top 30, and owing to its being suitably superheated a high thermic efiiciency is insured.

The steamgenerator according to this invention has a large heating-surface, while being comparatively small, and the path of travel of the gases through the interior is sufiiciently great to reduce their temperature to a low point before they escape. The steam is perfectly dried and superheated,while the generator can be easily taken to pieces,and finally all the tubes can be easily reached and removed.

Steam can be got up in a very short time, and the generator is very powerful for its size.

On examining Fig. 1 it will be seen that closable openings are arranged on the top of the smoke-box 31'to enable the tubes 33, as well as the tubes 22, of the superheater to be easily cleaned.

The generator shown in Fig. 2 is particularly adapted to small sizes and is absolutely the same as the generator already described, except as regards the upper part, which is simplified. The plate 17 is narrowed at the top, so as to form a cylinder, which directly supports the chimney 39. The drying and superheating of the steam are effected by means of a cylindrical casing 40, secured at the bottom to the plate 17, and a depending concentric inner wall 41, secured to the top of the generator, the steam passing in the direction of the arrows, and thus following a fairly long path before it reaches the outlet 30 and becoming heated by contact with the cylinder 17 after the liquid particles carried by it in suspension have been vaporized. There is no return flame flue or passage in this construction.

As regards the lower joint of the furnace, it may be useful in certain cases, more particularly in large generators, to have access to it IIO from the outside of the ash-pit. Figs. 3 and show an arrangement by means of which this result can be obtained and the joint-ringa put in place. The projection by means of which the furnace-wall 8 rests on the lower angleiron 13 is cut away so that it forms several lugs 12, the lower machined face of which rests on similar lugs 43 on the angle-iron 13, the upper face of which is also machined. The ring or flange 14:, cast in one with the furnacewall 8, brings the joint outside the ash-pit 5, on which the furnace rests. Screws 4:5 serve to force the lugs 43 of the angle-iron 13 against the lugs 42 on the furnace-wall and insure a rigid connection of the latter with the outside ring. As in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a circular movement is provided for to enable the furnace to be moved for the purpose of introducing the joints a. The same amount of play is possible at the bottom of the connection, owing to the provision of a groove 46, into which is placed for the purpose of making a joint either a rope of asbestos or a joint with compressed water by means of a ring 47, in one or several pieces, provided with a suitable offset and bolted in place.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a generator of superheated steam the combination with two concentric casings between which a space for water and steam is provided, of a series of tubes curved in the form of a part of a circle which normally pass through two conical portions of the interior casing, closing-plates opposite the ends of said tubes upon the exterior casing, a furnace-chamber, having ribs integral with the her while allowing the same some play, a series of tubes arranged at the top of .the inner casing and normally passing through two horizontal flanges of said casing, a vapor-dome upon the interior casing, a series of concentric double tubes mounted upon the bottom of said dome, an upper chamber mounted upon the two casings and communicating with the space in the interior casing, and a series of tubes con necting said chamber with the smokeconduit, substantially asdescribed and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a generator of superheated steam, the combination with two concentric casings between which a space for water and steam is provided, of a furnace-chamber having ribs integral with the interior casing, a circular top with horizontal flanges attached to the lower edge thereof, flanges on the furnacechamber resting upon the horizontal flanges of said top, a circular flange on said furnacechamber placed under said top and provided with bolts which are screwed into said top, and a ring forming glands for stuffing-boxes arranged between the flange of the furnacechamber and the flange of the top, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 4th day of April, 1903, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES PHILIPPE AL'IMANN.

Witnesses EDOUARD LAMY, MIXEM VACHON. 

